The cabinet will deal with the long-awaited bill on Tuesday. The law is part of a high-tech agenda intended to strengthen science, research and technology in Bavaria.
Around two and a half years after the announcement of a comprehensive university reform, the corresponding draft law is to be discussed in the cabinet this Tuesday. This was announced on Monday from state parliament circles. The so-called Higher Education Innovation Act is part of the high-tech agenda, a prestige project worth billions by Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU), which is intended to strengthen science, research and technology in Bavaria. Söder promised the universities and colleges more freedom, independence and competitiveness – but the reform is controversial.
Early on there was criticism that the plans were geared too much towards the interests of business. Bernd Sibler, who was replaced as Science Minister by Markus Blume (both CSU) in February, had always rejected this impression and tried to reach a consensus between students, professors and university management. As a result, the reform was delayed, now by at least a year. Sibler couldn’t allay the skepticism everywhere. It is now to be hoped that the higher education law “does not continue to insist on neoliberal ideas from mothballs,” said Verena Osgyan, spokeswoman for higher education for the Greens in the state parliament. She spoke on Monday of a “completely screwed up attempt at university reform”. The FDP also complained about the tough process. It cannot be explained why it takes two and a half years for a new law, said her science policy spokesman Wolfgang Heubisch, himself a former science minister. In a position paper, the FDP pleads for free semesters, an expansion of hybrid teaching and innovation managers at universities.
In fact, it is unlikely that the reform will only lead to a pure liberalization of higher education. Details such as spin-offs from start-ups and the right to award doctorates at universities of applied sciences (HAWs) are considered set. At the same time, contentious issues such as the power structure within the universities should be excluded as far as possible and the role of women and students should be strengthened.